How the Breed Got Its Name

For many years, the breed did not have an official name. Visitors from England, who admired the remarkable dogs they encountered in Switzerland, referred to them by several different names, including Hospice Dogs, Holy Dogs, Alpine Mastiffs, and Saint Bernard Mastiffs. Other names included Mountain Dogs, Monastery Dogs, and Swiss Alpine Dogs.

In Switzerland, the dogs were sometimes called Barry Dogs in honor of one of the most famous rescue dogs, Barry der Menschenretter. Barry was reputed to have saved more than forty people during his lifetime of service at the hospice.

Finally, in 1880, the name Saint Bernard was officially accepted for these courageous and devoted rescue dogs. From their humble beginnings as companions and watchdogs for mountain monks, Saint Bernards went on to become one of the world’s most recognized and beloved working breeds.